Free-opening, nonclosing snap lock device



Nov. 9, 1948. w. H. BLOOMBERG FREE OPENING, NONCLOSING SNAP LOCK DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4am M x N I 6 3 MW, J w u a H... a 5 a a 5 a 9 a a w a i: I

Patented Nov. 9, E1948 UNITED STATES PATELNT OFFICE FREE-OPENIN G, NON CLGSIN G SNAP LOCK DEVICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a key-controlled freeopening non-closing snap lock device for preventing unauthorized replacement of a removable cover upon a receptacle when the cover has been once removed.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is dis- S closed herein as applied to a can for transporting bulk milk, or other liquid materials, but obviously is adapted to be employed for other types of receptacles for other uses.

It is well known that cans for bulk milk are usually of like construction and when shipped by different producers to a factory or other receiving and distributing stations are frequently confused and the can of one own-er delivered to another.

Inasmuch as these cans are quite costly and because the laws regulating cleansing and care thereof are stringent, it is desirable that means be provided which will so identify the cover with the can from which it has been removed as to insure the return of each owners can to him after the contents have been discharged.

Similar conditions occur in other industries.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means for permitting ready original sealing application of the cover to the receptacle and for preventing effective sealing replacement of the cover when the cover has been once removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which. will enable the cover when once removed to be partially replaced upon the receptacle with the cylindrical sealing flange of the cover telescopically engaging the cylindrical wall in such manner as to enable the receptacle to be handled without displacement of the cover therefrom but restrained from effective sealing application which will prevent discharge of the contents.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which will permit removal of the cover in the usual manner and thereupon prevent replacement of it. A further object of the invention is to provide means controlled by a key in the possession of the owner of the receptacle for setting and resetting the cover-restricting mechanism so that it may be effectively applied in sealing position and the receptacle thereby repeatedly used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key-operated lockingvmeans for so setting the "cover-restricting means as to permit application of the cover and from which look the key cannot be removed until'the setting operation has been completed.

These and other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the side wall of a milk can with a cover applied thereto in sealing position and showing a preferred means for preventing replacement of the cover when once removed;

Fig. 2 is a similar vertical sectional view showing the means for preventing replacement of the cover in position to prevent sealing application of the cover;

Fig. 3 is a detail rear view of the mechanism for restricting the application of the cover, illustrating in dotted lines the cover in sealing position;

Fig. l is a detail transverse sectional view on line 4-4, Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed plan view showing in full and broken lines respectively the cover-restricting means iii-positions to permitand to prevent application of the cover.

The invention is disclosed herein as applied to a usual type of can for containing bulk milk, or other material, which comprises a preferably .cyiindrical can body i with a conoidally converging upper portion 2 merging into a cylindrical neck section 3 having an outwardly conoidally flaring end portion 4 with an outwardly beaded edge 5.

The cover comprises a fiat top 6 having an integral cylindrical wall I which telescopically fits within the cylindrical portion 3 of the neck of the receptacle and when fully inserted therein seals the mouth of the receptacle. The cover also comprises a fiat plate 8 which is fixedly secured to the top ii and has a downwardly curved bonnet flange 9 merging into a cylindrical end portion it suitably spaced from and concentric with the wall 5 and preferably terminating in an annular beaded edge H, as is usual in milk can constructions.

The mechanism for preventing sealing replacement of the cover of the can or other receptacle when once removed comprises broadly means movable into the path of a member of the cover which will restrain the cover from sufiicient telescopic engagement with the receptacle to form a seal and which can be removed out of the path of the cover member to enable the telescoping member of the cover to be fully applied to sealing position by unlocking mechanism operable only by the owner's key.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein the mechanism for thus preventing sealing replacement of the cover when once removed comprises a vertical hollow housing mounted on the neck of the can having an outer wall I2 with side walls l3 and Hi integral with and diverging therefrom fitting the converging portion 2, the neck portion 3, and the flaring end portion 4 of the canyand provided with flanges 1'5 and I8 and a bottom flange l'l secured by hard soldering, welding, or otherwise, to the can.

The housin is provided with upper and lower transverse horizontal partitions l8 and I9 and the outer wall l2 has a vertical extension 20 projecting above the horizontal partition l3 well above the beaded edge of the flaring mouth of the can and is in close proximity to the path of the cylindrical bonnet portion of the cover when the cover is telescopically applied to thecan, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The mechanism for restricting replacement of the cover to the can when once removed comprises an abutment member having an elongated'head 2 l, which rests upon the upper partition l8 of the housing, having parallel sides and rounded vertical edges with an integral shank 22 extending 'eccentrically downwardly from one of said rounded edge portions and journaled in the respective partitions i8 and 59 at such distance from the extension 29 of the wall 12 as to provide a space therebetween to admit the cylindrical bonnet flange of the cover and its bead when "the flat side of the eccentrically mounted head is in parallelism with the wall extension 2!! and when the eccentric head of the abutment member is rotated to a'position perpendicular to the wall 29 to form a stop which will prevent the insertion of the bonnet flange into the space within the extension 2d of the wall I2 and thereby so tilt the cover as to prevent telescopic sealing engagement of the cylindrical wall 1 of the cover with the cylindrical neck portion 3 of the can. The elongated head 2i is provided midway of its length with a horizontal groove 2M: extending along its inner side and across the edge from which the shank extends to avoid engagement of the head with the peripheral bead 5 of the can mouth when the head is rotated from parallelism with to a position at right angles to the wall extension 20.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings the shank 22 of the abutment member has secured to it by screw threaded connection, or otherwise, a collar 23 which rests upon the partition l9. A coiled spring 24, which encircles the shank 22 of the abutment member and is secured at its upper end to the partition l3 and at its lower end to a boss 25 projecting upwardly from the collar 23, tends normally to rotate the abutment member in a direction to position the abutment head 2| across the space within the wall extension 28 substantially 'per- 'pendicular to said housing extension, thereby to prevent the introduction of the bonnet flange of the cover into the space within the wall extension 20 as shown in Fig. '2.

The collar 23 is provided with laterally extending arms 25 and 2! having vertical shoulders 26w and 27w adapted to engage a stop screw 28 which isseated in the partition 59 to limit undue rotative movement of the abutment member in opposite directions. The arm 21 of the collar "has a flat upper surface 29 adapted to be engaged by and slidably'support an arm-of a detent lever when the abutment member'is rotated "to .extending at right angles from its end which rests upon the flat face 29 of the collar and which upon rotation of the collar sufficiently to position the shoulder 21:1: beyond the end of the detent will permit the detent to be engaged thereby.

.A boss :33iproje'cting upwardly from the partition 19 at the junction of the arm 3 la: to the lever 30 serves as an abutment and guide for the elbow of the detent lever when the end of its arm 3L1: is depressed to engage the shoulder *21-32 of the collar arm 21.

The detent lever 30 is provided with an inclined lower edge "'34 and "adjacent to its pivot with a recess 35.

A key operated locking mechanism is'provi'ded for actuating 'the detent lever in "the "manner hereinafter described for'controllin'g the position ofthe abutment member to permit or :to'pi'e'vent insertion of the bonnet flange intothespac'ewithinfthe'wallexten'sioh 20.

"The key-operated looking member is so constructedthat when the key is turned inon'e -direction 'toraise the detentlev'e'r '30 out of engagement with "the shoulder 21a: and above'th'e 'flat face .29 of the collar 23 and upon furtherrotation oi the key in the same direction tojpermit the detent lever arm to engage the shoulder 27x or the collar while to retain thelkey within the lock unless the head of the abutment memberi's'held in parallelism with the wall extension 20 to permit sealing application of the cover.

In the preferred construction illustrated the locking mechanism comprises a split cylindrical casing 3'6 whichis fixedly secured to .the under face of the partition l9 with downwardlyextending flanges 37 and T38 which are securedtogether by ascrew 39. A cylindrical lock barrel 49 is mounted in the casing and the casing andbarrel areprovided with usual alined pins .4"! and 42 adapted to be positioned to permit rotation of the barrelby the insertion of ravsuitable key A3 as The end-of the barrel M3 is provided with an arm 44 adapted whenrotated. by .the key to engage the inclineddower edge 34 of the detent lever '36 and swingiit upwardly aboutits pivot 3| to release itsarmila: from engagement with the shoulder "21a: of .the collar Y23, and when the end of the arm 44 is seated in the recess 35 in the detent lever 30 to prevent withdrawal of the key from the look as is usual in cylinder locks of the Yale.type.

.In the operation of the device above described, assuming thatth'e cover has been removed .from

-thecan to discharge its contents, the spring 24 acts normally to rotate and holdthe abutment head transversely across the space between "the extension 2'0 of the housing l2 and the bead '5 on the mouth of the can thereby toprev'entseal- 'ing application of the cover to the can 'but to "permit the application of the cover t'othe can inthetilted'position which by reason of theihclined engagement of the cylindrical sea'li'n'g member "of the cover 'with'the cylindrical "neck of the can will so support the cover 'on'th'e'ca'n as to enable the can to be handled and returned to the owner without dislodging the cover from the can.

When it is desired by the owner to rotate the abutment member from this position into parallelism with the wall extension 20 as shown in Fig. 2 to permit washing and filling of the can, the owner inserts the key in the lock and turns the key in a direction to cause the arm 44 of the barrel of the cylinder lock to engage the inclined under surface of the detent 30 and raise its arm 3|:c out of engagement with the shoulder 21a: of the collar 23 on the shank 20 of the abutment member. The operator simultaneously manually grasps the head it and rotates it into a position in parallelism with the wall extension 20. Upon further rotation of the key in the same direction, the end of the barrel arm 24 of the lock cylinder enters the recess 35 thereby permitting the spring 32 to force the detent lever downwardly causing its arm 3m to ride over the flat face 25 of the collar beyond the shoulder 27a: and its end into engagement with said shoulder thereby locking the head ll of the abutment member in parallelism with the upwardly extending wall 20 of the casing, thus providing a space between the wall and the abutment member into which the cylindrical end portion ill of the bonnet flange 9 and its bead H may be inserted, thus enabling the cylindrical wall l of the cover to be positioned in sealing relation to the cylindrical neck 3 0f the can. When the end of the arm M of the lock barrel is engaged with the recess 35 and the detent forced downwardly by the spring 32 into engagement with the shoulder 21$ of the collar 23 reverse rotation of the lock barrel will be prevented and the key held in the lock by the pins 42 so that it cannot be removed. When the abutment member is thus positioned to permit sealing application of the cover it can be Washed thoroughly and then filled and the cover replaced. When the cover has been replaced the operator can remove the key by turning the key in a reverse direction until it is in alinement with the key slot. Such final rotation of the barrel of the" cylinder lock will cause its arm M to raise the arm 3 in of the detent lever 30 out of engagement with the shoulder 21x of the collar 23 thereby permitting the spring 24 to rotate the head 2| into frictional engagement with the inner face of the bonnet flange, thereby aiding in retaining the cover in sealing position during the handling andtransportation of the can.

When the can cover is to be removed to permit discharge of the contents of the can the bonnet flange is knocked upwardly in the usual manner and the action of the spring 24 upon the abutment member Will rotate the head of the abutment member to a position at substantially right angles to the Wall extension 20 to prevent replacement of the cover in sealing position.

The cover may then be partially replaced for the return of the can to the owner but the telescoping wall 7 will be prevented from being inserted sufiiciently into the cylindrical neck of the can to provide a sealing fit. The cover however cannot be again properly applied to the can to seal it until the person possessing the key again turns the abutment member to open position, as shown in Fig. 2 and as above described.

It will be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention shown and described herein is of an illustrative character, that various changes in form and construction may be made, which comprise key-controlled abutment-mechanism mounted upon the exterior of the can adapted to be positioned into and out of the path of a member or portion of the cover to prevent telescopic engagement of the cover with the mouth of the can within the meaning and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a'receptacle having a tubular entrance, a removable cover having a wall complementary to said tubular entrance adapted telescopically to be inserted into it in sealing engagement therewith and provided with a flange spaced from and parallel to said wall, means mounted on the exterior of the receptacle having an abutment member movable out of or into the path of the flange adapted selectively to permit or to prevent sufiicient telescopic engagement of the complementary cover wall with said entrance to provide an efiective seal, a rotatable key operated lock and means operable thereby for locking said abutment member out of the path of said cover flange whereby the cover can be sealingly applied to the receptacle only by the person having the key.

2. In combination with a receptacle having a tubular entrance, a removable cover having a wall complementary to said tubular entrance adapted telescopically to be inserted into it in sealing engagement therewith and provided with a flange spaced from and parallel to said wall, means mounted on the exterior of the receptacle having an abutment member movable out of or into the path of the flange adapted selectively to permit or toprevent sufficient telescopic engagement of the complementary cover wall with said entrance to provide an effective seal, a rotatable key operated lock and means operable thereby selectively to lock said abutment member out of the path of said cover flange or in flange abutting position.

3. In combination with a receptacle having a tubular entrance, a removable cover having a wall complementary to said tubular entrance adapted telescopically to be inserted into it in sealing engagement therewith and provided with a flange spaced from and parallel to said wall, means mounted on the exterior of the receptacle having an abutment member movable out of or into the path of the flange adapted selectively to permit or to prevent sufficient telescopic engagement of the complementary cover wall with said entrance to provide an effective seal, a key operated lock and means operable thereby to lock said abutment member out of the path of said cover flange, and means for preventing removal of the key from the lock so long as the abutment member is locked out of flange abutting position.

4. In combination with a receptacle having a' tubular entrance, a removable cover having a Wall complementary to said tubular entrance adapted telescopically to be inserted into it in sealing engagement therewith and provided with a flange spaced from and parallel to said wall, means mounted on the exterior of the receptacle having an abutment member movable out of or into the path of the flange adapted selectively to permit or to prevent suificient telescopic engagement of the complementary cover wall with said entrance to provide an effective seal, a spring acting upon said abutment member normally tending to force the same into flange arresting position, detent mechanism for locking said abutment member in flange arresting position, a rotatable key operated lock having means for enhance releasing said detent mechanism. to permit manual removal of the abutting means from the path of the flange and to permit other locking engagement of said detent mechanism with the abutting member when removed from flange ar resting position thereby to prevent telescopic sealing application of the cover to the receptacle.

'5. In combination with a'receptacle having a tubular entrance and a cover therefor havin a wall complementary thereto adapted to be telescopically inserted therein in sealing engagement therewith and provided with a bonnet flange parallel with and circumferentially spaced from the telescoping wall of the cover, means for preventing sealing or replacement of the cover when once removed comprising a casing fixedly secured to the outside of the receptacle having a wall extending beyond the entrance thereof and spaced therefrom sufliciently to provide a path for the bonnet flange, an abutment member having a shank rotatably mounted in said housing and having an elongated head rotatable into and out of the path of said bonnet flange, a spring acting on said abutment member normally to position said head across the path of said bonnet flange, spring actuated detent mechanism for locking said head in that position when the cover has been removed, a key-controlled lock operable by turning the key in one direction, to release said detent mechanism thereby to permit said head to be rotated out of the path of the bonnet flange and to permit said detent mechanism to lock the head against rotation when so removed to enable sealing application of the cover.

6. In combination with a receptacle having a tubular entrance and a cover therefor having a wall complementary thereto adapted to be telescopically inserted therein in sealing engagement therewith and provided with a bonnet flange parallel with and circumferentially spaced from the telescoping wall of the cover, means for preventing sealing or replacement of the cover when once removed comprising a casing fixedly secured to the outside of the receptacle having a wall extending beyond the entrance thereof and spaced therefrom sufliciently to provide a path for the bonnet flange, an abutment member having a shank rotatably mounted in said housing and having an elongated head rotatable into and out of the path of said bonnet flange, a spring acting on said abutment member normally to position said head across the path of said bonnet flange, spring actuated detent mechanism for locking said head in that position when the cover has been removed, a key-controlled lock operable by turning the key in one direction, to release said detent mechanism thereby to permit said head to be rotated out of the path of the bonnet flange and to permit said detent mechanism to lock the head against rotation when so removed to enable sealing application of the cover, and means for preventing removal of the key from the look while the'head is thus positioned and operable after the application of the cover by turning the key in the reverse direction to release said detent mechanism and thereby to cause said head to be rotated by its spring into clamping engagement with the bonnet flange. I

'7. A combination with a milk can or the like having a body, a tubular neck portion and a flanged'end portion and a cover having a wall complementary to and telescopicallyfltting within said neck portion and the bonnet flangeen- 8 circling an'dfittin'g over said end, means for re: Venting unauthorized sealing replacement of the cover when once removed comprising a housing, mounted-on the outside of said neck and end portion of the can, having a vertical wall extending above and suifioiently spaced from the end of the can to provide a path for the bonnet flangeto pass therebetween, an abutment memher having a shank rotatably mounted in the housing and provided with an eccentric elongated head adapted to be rotatably positioned into or out of the path of said'bonnet flange, a spring acting on said abutment tending to position the head thereof across the path of the bonnet flange, detent'mechanism selectively operable to lock said abutment member in or out of the path of the bonnet flange comprising a collar rigid with said shank having a shoulder and a flat face adapted respectively to be engaged by the detent when said head is positioned across or out of the path of the bonnet flange, a spring actuated detent pivotally mounted in said housing tending to cause said detent to engage the shoulder or the face of said collar, a key operated lock in said housing having means operable when the key is rotated in one direction to raise the detent out of engagement with the shoulder on the collar and upon manual rotation of the abutment head out of vthe path of the bonnet flange to permit said detent to engage the flat face of the collarand thereby lock the detent out of the path of the bonnet flange, and means for preventing removal of the key from the look while the abutment member is locked out of the path of the bonnet flange.

v8. A combination with a milk can or the like having a body, a tubular neck portion and a flanged end portion and a cover having a wall complementary to and telescopically fitting within said neck portion and the bonnet flange encircling and fitting over said end, means for preventing unauthorized sealing replacement of the cover when once removed comprising a housing,

vmounted on the outside of said neck and end portion of the can, having a vertical wall extending above and sufiiciently spaced from the end of the can to provide a path for the bonnet flange to pass therebetween, an abutment memher having a shank rotatably mounted in the housing and provided with an eccentric elongated head adapted to be rotatably positioned into or out of the path of said bonnet flange, a spring acting on said abutment tending to position the head thereof across the path of the bonnet flange, detent mechanism selectively operable to lock said abutment member in or out of the path of the bonnet flange comprising a collar rigid with said shank having a shoulder and a flat face adapted respectively to be engaged by the detent when said head is positioned across or out of the path of the bonnet flange, a spring actuated detent pivotally mounted in said housing tending to cause said detent to engage the shoulder or the .face of said collar, a key operated lock in said housing having means operable when the key is rotated in one direction to raise the detent out of engagement withthe shoulder on the collar and upon manual rotation of the abutment head out of the path of the bonnet flange to permit said detent to engage the fiat face of the collar and thereby lock the detent out of the path of the bonnet flange, and means for preventing removal of the key from the look while the abutment member is locked .out of the path of the bonnet-flange, but operable by turning the key 9 in the reverse direction to release said detent mechanism and thereby cause said abutment head to be rotated by its spring into clamping engagement with the bonnet flange.

WILLIAM H. BLOOMBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Grafi Sept. 4, 1883 Hoile Aug. 11, 1896 Hambry et a1 Oct. 18, 1910 Snyder Aug. 27, 1912 Curran Aug. 21, 1923 

